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Because
There Is A Way To Prevent
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
Copyright
1998 STOP IT NOW! Reprinted with permission.
Warning
Signs of Child Sexual Abuse
Behaviorial
Warning Signs a Child May Have Been Abuse
Some of these
behavioral signs can show up at other stressful times in a child's
life such as divorce, the death of a family member, friend or
pet, or when there are problems in school, as well as when abuse
is involved. Any one sign doesn't mean the child was abused, but
several of them mean that you should begin asking questions. Do
you notice some of the following behaviors in children you know
well?
- Nightmares, trouble sleeping, fear of the dark, or other sleeping
problems.
- Extreme fear of "monsters."
- Spacing out at odd times.
- Loss of appetite, or trouble eating or swallowing.
- Sudden mood swings: rage, fear, anger, or withdrawel.
- Fear of certain people or places (e.g., a child may not want
to be left alone with a baby-sitter, a friend, a relative, or
some other child or adult; or a child who is usually talkative
and cheery may become quiet and distant when around a certain
person).
- Stomach illness all of the time with no identifiable reason.
- An older child behaving like a younger child, such as bed-wetting
or thumb sucking
- Sexual activities with toys or other children, such as simulating
sex with dolls or asking other children/siblings to behave sexually.
- New words for private body parts.
- Refusing to talk about a "secret" he/she has with
an adult or older child.
- Talking about a new older friend.
- Suddenly having money.
- Cutting or burning herself or himself as a adolescent.
Physical
Warning Signs A Child May Have Been Abused
Does a child close to you have:
- Unexplained bruises, redness, or bleeding of the child's genitals,
anus, or mouth?
- Pain at the genitals, anus, or mouth?
- Genital sores or milky fluids in the genital area?
If you said "yes to any of these examples bring your child
to a doctor. Your doctor can help you understand what may be happening
and test for sexually transmitted diesases.
What
to Watch Out For When Adults Are With Children
Have you ever seen someone playing with a child and felt uncomfortable
with it? Maybe you thought, "I'm just over-reacting,"
or "He/she doesn't really mean that." Don't ignore the
behavior, learn how to ask more questions about what you have
seen. The checklist below offers some warning signs.
Do you know an adult or older child who:
- Refuses to let a child set any of his or her own limits?
- Insists on hugging, touching, kissing, tickling, wrestling
with or holding a child even when the child does not want this
affection?
- Is overly interested in the sexuality of a particular child
or teen (e.g., talks repeatedly about the child's developing
body or interferes with normal teen dating)?
- Manages to get time alone or insists on time alone with a
child with no interruptions?
- Spends most of his/her spare time with children and has little
interest in spending time with someone their own age?
- Regularly offers to babysit many different children for free
or takes children on overnight outings alone?
- Buys children expensive gifts or gives them money for no apparent
reason?
- Frequently walks in on children/teens in the bathroom?
- Allows children or teens to consistently get away with inappropriate
behaviors?
If you answered "yes" to some of these behaviors, talk
to that person. If you are uncomfortable but don't see these signs,
be sure to trust your instincts and ask questions.
Alert
Signals For An Adult With Sexual Behavior Problems
Someone you
love may be acting in a way that worries or confuses you. These
behaviors may be a way for this person to ask for help. Many people
with sexual behavior problems wish that someone had asked them
what was going on or had told them where to call.
Do you know
someone who:
- Talks again
and again about the sexual activities of children or teens?
- Masturbates
a lot or takes breaks from other activities to go masturbate?
- Talks about
sexual fantasies with children and is not clear about what's
okay with children?
- Was abused
as a child and won't deal with it?
- Encourages
silence and secrets in a child?
- Looks at
child pornography?
- Asks adult
partners to dress or act like a child or teen during sexual
activity?
- Often has
a "special" child friend, maybe a different one from
year to year?
- Spends
most spare time on activities involving children or teens, not
adults?
- Makes fun
of a child's body parts, calls a child sexual names such as
"stud," "whore," or "slut"?
If you do
not know how to approach this person or you need support, please
visit our Resources page.
Copyright
1998 STOP IT NOW!
Reprinted with permission.
www.stopitnow.com
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